Interchangeable sign.



F. R. CORNWALL.

INTERCHANGEABLE SIGN.

APPLICAHON r1150 APR. 12. 1915.

Patented May 9,1916.

FREDERICK R. CORNWALL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

INTERCHANGEABLE SIGN.

Application filed April 12, 1915.

F0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK R. CORN- WALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Interchangeable Signs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in interchangeable signs, that is, signs or like display devices having marked or lettered members which are interchangeable with respect to each other and detachable and adjustable with respect to their support.

Signs or display devices of the type to which my invention relates are generally used for advertising purposes in show windows, upon counters, stands and the like, as a hanging sign for walls, or if desired, devices embodying my invention may be utilized as a directory-board for ofiice buildings.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a comparatively simple sign or display device having interchangeable and readily adjustable letter carrying members, which latter can be easily and quickly applied to or removed from the supporting element forming a part of the device, and to provide simple means whereby the letter carrying members can be readily applied to the support in a firm and secure manner so that they will not become detached therefrom or disarra-nged when the sign or display device is moved from one position to another.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of an interchangeable sign of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sec tion of a portion of my improved sign and showing one of the letter carrying members detached therefrom. Fig. eis a vertical section similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating a modified construction of the sign.

As illustrated in the accompanying draw- Specification of Letters Patent.

upwardly projecting Patented May 9, 1916.

Serial No. 20,724.

ings the base or support forming the main body portion of my improved device comprises a plate 10, preferably sheet metal and inclosed in a suitable frame 11. The plate 10 is slotted horizontally as designated by 12 and that portion of the plate immediately below each slot is bent outward so that it 00 cupies an angle of approximately forty-five degrees, thus forming a horizontally disposed inclined lip 13 in which is formed an longitudinally disposed rib or bead 14. That portion of the plate immediately above each slot 12 is bent outwardly to form a horizontally disposed supporting rib or flange 15, the outer portion thereof occupying substantially the same vertical plane with the outer end of the lip '13. By virtue of this construction, the letter carrying element, when applied to the support, will occupy a substantially vertical position in front of, and parallel with the main body portion of the supporting plate.

The letter or character carrying element 16 is in the form of a small plate, preferably constructed of sheet metal, and bears on its outer face a letter, character. or a combination thereof. The upper portion of the body of the plate is bent rearwardly and downwardly thereby forming an inclined flange or lip 17. Formed in this inclined lip or flange is a horizontally disposed downwardly projecting rib or bead 18, which when the member 16 is applied to the sup port. occupies a position immediately to the rear of one of the ribs or beads 14 on the inclined supporting lip 13.

The angle between the body of the member 16 and the inclined lip 17 is slightly less than the angle between the supporting lip 13 and a vertical plane, and thus when the letter carrying element is applied to the support or base plate 10 with the inclined lip 17 positioned over supporting lip 13, the resiliency in the metal of which the member 16 is formed, permits the lip 17 to spring slightly upward, thereby creating a certain amount of pressure or tension which causes the rib 18 to grip or bind with considerable friction against the rear side of rib 14, and such action firmly secures the letter carrying element to the support.

It will be understood that when the member 16 is applied to the support that the lower portion of said member bears directly against the outer portion of lip or flange 15. The members 16 can be adjusted lengthwise upon the supporting members 13 and 15 so as to properly space the letters or words formed thereby, which action can be accomplished even after the members are properly applied to the support, by simply engaging said members with suflicient pressure to overcome their frictional engagement with the support, and sliding them along the lips or flanges 13 and 15.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4c, the plate 10 is bent to form a series of hori- Zontally disposed forwardly projecting ribs 19, the upper portions of which are inclined upwardly and outwardly and provided with longitudinally disposed upwardly projecting ribs 20, the same performing the same functions as the retaining ribs 14, previously described. In this form of device, the body of the letter carrying member 16, when applied to the support, engages the outer portion of rib 19 and the inclinedlip 17 on said member overlies the inclined top of said rib with the depending rib or bead 18 seated with frictional engagement behind rib 20.

It will be understood that the members 16 can be of any desired width and length and each member may be provided with any number of letters or characters.

A sign or display device of my improved construction is comparatively simple, comprises a minimum number of parts, can be cheaply produced, presents a neat and finished appearance when properly assembled, and forms an attractive sign or display device which is applicable for use in show win dows, upon counters, or as a hanging sign in windows and upon Walls.

A device of my improved construction is particularly desirable by reason of the fact that when the letter or character members are properly applied to the face plate or support, they will retain their positions thereupon in a firm and substantial manner while said sign is being moved from one position to another, or in the event said sign is accidentally struck and upset.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a support, of a character plate having a resilient hook which is adapted to yieldingly engage said support, and interengaging ribs on said support and hook.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting flange on which is formed a rib, a character plate provided with alip which is adapted to engage over said flange, a porggpies 01 this patent may be obtained {or five cents each,

Washington, I). 0.

tion of which lip frictionally engages the rib on said flange.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting flange provided with a rib, a character plate having a portion bent so as to engage over said flange, and a rib on the bent portion of said plate, which rib is adapted to engage the rib on the flange.

i. In a device of the class described, a support provided with an inclined flange on which is formed a rib, and a character plate having a resilient hook portion which is adapted to engage over said flange and yieldingly engage the rib thereon.

5. The combination with a support having an inclined flange on which is formed a rib, of a character plate having a resilient portion adapted to overlie the flange, and a rib on said resilient portion, which rib is adapted to bear against the rib on the flange.

6. In a device of the class described, a plate provided with a slot and the edge of the plate beneath said slot being bent out ward to form a supporting flange, and a character plate having a resilient lip which is adapted to engage over the supporting flange.

7. In a device of the class described, a plate provided with a slot and the edge of the plate beneath said slot being bent outward to form a supporting flange, a character' plate having a resilient lip Which is adapted to engage over the supporting flange, and interengaging means on said flange and lip for firmly maintaining the character plate in position on the first mentioned plate.

8. In a. device of the class described, a plate, an inclined flange projecting outwardly therefrom, said flange being provided with a rib, and a character plate having a resilient lip which is adapted to overlie said flange and engage the. rib thereupon.

9. In a device of the class described, a plate provided with a pair of slots, the edge of the plate beneath the upper one of the slots being bent outward to form a supporting flange, the edge of the plate above the lower slot being bent outward to form a bearing rib, and a character plate having a resilient lip which is adapted to engage over the supporting flange, and the lower portion of which plate engages the bearing rib.

10. In a device of the class described, a plate, the face of which bears a character, and a portion of which plate is bent to form a resilient hook, the same being provided with a rib, said hook and rib being adapted to engage a support.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 9th day of April, 1915.

FREDERICK R. CORNWALL.

y a dressing the Commissiqner o1 ra a. 

